The Modbo and S.P.Q.R. proudly present an art opening on Friday, July 6th, featuring works by Trevor W. Thomas and Jess Preble in The Modbo and by Troy DeRose and Jeremy Grant in S.P.Q.R. The opening reception for this show is at 5:30 pm on Friday, July 6th, and goes until midnight. There will be live music by The Good Morning Accordion Terrorist at 9 pm on opening night. The galleries are located at 17b and 17c East Bijou, and can be reached at themodbo@gmail.com, 633-4240, or online at www.themodbo.com.
Trevor W. Thomas is an artist based out of Colorado Springs. Trevor has a strong background in figurative work, having studied in Italy, Spain and Sweden during his college studies. Through his schooling and
travels, Trevor has studied under artists including Eric Bransby, Charles Cecil, Chris Alvarez, Bogdan Swider, and Sparky LeBold. After graduating from Colorado College in 2010, Trevor worked alongside Eric
Bransby for 18 months on a mural for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. With a passion for historical narrative and figurative painting, Trevor currently is working with local institutions and business ventures to create more significant murals in Colorado Springs. He is also a member of the Modbo Collective.
Jess Preble, 23, is a native Colorado artist who has spent time studying fine art and painting independently in multiple cities in Colorado as well as in San Francisco. Jess has become integrated in the local artistic community recently in hopes of strengthening the presence of all forms of tactile, visual and sensory emotive expression. She is the newest member of The Modbo Collective. Jess works as a figure model for various art studios and galleries, as playing muse for another seems just as pertinent as finding them for herself.
Troy DeRose is one of the original members of the Modbo Collective. He is an artist/graphic designer living in Colorado Springs where he and his wife Sara own Fixer Creative Co., a boutique studio that provides design and writing creative services for businesses and organizations. Fixer Creative was recently selected
as the designers for the new Colorado Springs logo, which was unveiled this spring. Says DeRose, “There are times when artists have guiding principles, explorations or grandiose themes, and then there are times when we just need to relax, have fun and create work. This body of work is just that. This is me working in a medium that I love, with images that I find compelling, crafting a response that I think is beautiful.”
Jeremy Grant works in the medium of found object assemblage, and is following the theme of redemption. Redemption is that act of finding or revealing the full worth of something; and worth is often found in unexpected places. The teachings of Jesus show that God finds value in every person no matter how cast-off, messed up or just plain ordinary. Exploring that same idea, Jeremy Grant finds beauty and creates worth in cast-off objects, reclaimed wood and old photographs. Using these found-objects, and the associations that come with them, he creates stories and elevates the ordinary.
P.S. Jeremy Grant and Troy DeRose are among the designers at Wild Fire Tees, http://www.wildfiretees.com. The profits from these shirts get donated to Care and Share, Colorado Red Cross, Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012, and Immediate Local Wildfire Relief. Congrats, Jeremy and Troy, on this wildly successful, charitable effort!